Exposure controls for cameras



Feb. 7, 1967 KlPER 3,302,544

EXPOSURE CONTROLS FOR CAMERAS Filed Nov. 20, 1964 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 29b1&2122 I/\ g \\X, 5 2 9 INVENTOR.

GERD KIPER G. KIPER Feb;7,1967

EXPOSURE CONTROLS FOR CAMERAS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1964INVENTOR.

GERD KIPER Feb. 7, 1967 KlPER 3,302,544

EXPOSURE CONTROLS FOR CAMERAS Filed Nov. 20. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.3

INVENTOR.

GERD KIPER United States Patent M 3,302,544 E XPOSURE CONTROLS FORCAMERAS Gerd Klper, Unterhaching, Munich, Germany, assignor to AgfaAktiengesellschaft, Leverkusen, Germany Filed Nov. 20, 1964, Ser. No.412,649 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 23, 1963, A 44,630Claims. (CI. 95-60) The present invention relates to cameras.

More particularly, the present invention relates to exposure controllingstructure for cameras.

The present invention is particularly applicable to that type of camerawhere the shutter includes leading and trailing members both movablefrom a cocked to a rest position With the leading member moving from itscocked to its rest position in advance of the trailing member to make anexposure while the trailing member then moves from its cocked to itsrest position to terminate the exposure.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide for a cameraof the above type an electrical exposure controlling structure whichenables the camera to be operated so as to make a selected one of aplurality of different types of exposures.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide for astructure of the above type the possibility of making exposures which donot require any automatic controls such as, for example, a time exposurewhere the camera is placed in a B position.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide for acamera of the above type the possibility not only of making a timeexposure but also of making either an automatic exposure according tothe lighting conditions or a flash exposure.

In particular, the invention has for an object to provide a manuallyoperable selecting means which can be very conveniently operated so asto bring about the above select-ion of one of a plurality of differenttypes of operation.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide for a structure of theabove type not only structure for controlling'the exposure time but alsostructure for controlling a diaphragm of the camera.

With the above objects in view the invention includes, in a camera, ashutter means which has leading and trailing members both of which aremovable between cocked and rest positions, the leading member of theshutter means moving from its cocked to its rest position in advance ofthe trailing member so as to expose film and the trailing member thenmoving from its cocked to its rest position to terminate the exposure. Ablocking means is movable between blocking and release positions andwhen in its blocking position blocks movement of the trailing memberfrom its cocked to its rest position. An electrical means cooperateswith the blocking means for moving the latter from its blocking to itsrelease position so as to release the trailing member for movement fromits cocked to its rest position. A manually operable means isoperatively connected to the electrical means for placing the latter ina selected one of three positions, namely a B position, an automaticposition, and -a flash position. This manually operable means, whenplacing the electrical means in its B position, providing manualdetermniation of the termination of the exposure so that in this way theelectrical means can be actuated by the operator to displace theblocking means from its blocking to its release position at an instantwhich is selected by the operator in order to make time exposures, andthe electrical means, when placed by the manually operable means in itsautomatic position automatically determining the instant of displacementof the blocking 3,302,544 Patented Feb. 7, 1967 means from its blockingto its release position in accordance with the lighting conditions.Finally, the electrical means when in its flash position willautomatically displace the blocking means from its blocking to itsrelease position after a period of time suitable for making a flashexposure.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic partly sectional illustration of one possibleembodiment of a structure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic partly sectional illustration of asecond embodiment of a structure according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic partly sectional illustration of athird embodiment of a structure according to the present invention.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 1 theshutter includes a pair of blades which cooperate to make the exposures.The shutter assembly shown in FIG. 1 includes a supporting plate 1 onwhich a cocking shaft 2 is supported for rotary movement. The shaft 2fixedly carries a cocking lever 3 which is acted upon by a spring 4which seeks to return the cocking lever 3 to a rest position where itengages a stationary stop member 5 which is carried by the plate 1. Thecocking shaft 2 extends through openings formed in the pair of shutterblades 6 and 7 as well as through openings formed in a pair of shutterdriving discs 8 and 9, all of the elements 6-9 being freely turnable onthe cocking shaft 2. The driving discs 8 and 9 are respectively providedwith projections 10 and 11 which are fixed to the shutter blades 6 and 7so that the shutter blade 6 is compelled to turn with the disc 8, whilethe shutter blade 7 is compelled to turn with the disc 9. Theprojections 10 and 11 respectively extend through arcuate slots 12 and13 formed in the plate 1 inasmuch as the blades 6 and 7 are situated onone side of the plate 1 and the shutter driving discs 8 and 9 aresituated on the other side of the plate 1. In the event that both thediscs and the blades are mounted on the same side of the plate 1, thenthe discs and blades may be formed of unitary structures where thestructure which forms the driving disc is, for example, integral withthe blade which it drives. A spring 14 is operatively connected to theshutter driving disc 8 for urging the latter to turn in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 1, while a spring 15 is operativelyconnected to the shutter driving dis-c 9 so as to urge the latter alsoto turn in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. The shutterdriving disc 8 includes, in addition, an angularly extending projection16 which is situated in the path of turning of the cocking lever 3. Theprojection 16 forms at the same time a stop for a projection 17 of thedriving disc 9. With this arrangement the driving disc 8 forms togetherwith the blade 6 a leading member of the shutter means, this leadingmember initially moving from its cocked to its rest posit-ion in orderto initiate the exposure, while the driving disc 9 together with theblade 7 form a trailing mem-.

ber of the shutter means, this trailing member moving from its cocked toits rest position subsequent to the movement of the leading member fromits cocked to its rest position so as to terminate the exposure.

In order to release the cocked driving disc 8 so that it can return fromits cocked to its rest position, to-

form of a lever 18 is provided, this lever 18 being supported forturning movement by a pin 19 which is fixedly carried by the plate 1'.The shutter release lever 18 has a first arm 18a which, in the cockedposition of FIG. 1, engages behind an end of a projection 20 of the disc8, so that the spring 14 while it is under considerable tension andseeks to turn the disc 8 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1,nevertheless is prevented from doing so as long as the arm 18a remainsin the position shown in FIG. 1. The lever 18 has a sec-' ond arm 18bwhich extends into the range of turning of the cocking lever 3, so thatduring cocking of the structure by the lever 3 the latter will engageand turn the release lever 18. The lever 18 has a third arm 18c which inthe cocked position of the assembly extends behind a hooked end portion22a of a manually operable release lever 22 forming a manually operableshutter release means together with the lever 18. The extent of turningof the lever 18 limited by a stationary stop member 23 which is carriedby the plate 1, and a spring 21 is coiled about the pin 19 and engages astationary pin as well as a pin carried by the lever 18 so as to urgethe latter to turn in the direction of the arrow 17. However, in thecocked position of the structure the engagement of the arm 18c by theend 22a of the lever 22 prevents the spring 21 from turning the lever 18into engagement with the stop member 2 3. The shutter release lever 22is fixedly carried by a shaft 24 which is supported for turning movementby the plate 1. In a manner well known in the art a structure which isaccessible to the operator is connected with the shaft 24 so as toenable the latter to be turned by the operator. A spring 25 is coiledabout the pin 24 and engages a stationary pin as well as a pin carriedby the lever 22 so as to urge the latter to turn in the direction of thearrow a shown in FIG. 1.

With this particular embodiment of the invention, the exposurecontrolling structure includes a normally open control switch 26 whichis situated in the path of turning of the arm 18a toward the stop member23 so that when the shutter is released the arm 18a will engage andclose the switch 26 which forms part of an electrical means of theinvention, this electrical means cooperating with a blocking means asdescribed below. The electrical means includes in addition to thenormally open control switch 26, a branch 27 of an electrical circuit,the switch 26 being situated in this branch. The branch 27 is on the onehand connected with a pair of contacts 28a and 29a, the latter beingconnected in parallel with each other, these contacts forming stationarycontacts of a pair of switches 28 and 29 which form a pair of additionalcontrol switches. The additional switch 28 includes also a movablecontact 28b which is urged by a spring 30 to turn into engagement withthe stationary contact 28a. This movable contact 28b is carried by alever 32 which is supported for turning movement about a stationary pin31 which is carried by the plate 1. This lever 32 is provided with anarm 320 which is urged by the spring 30 into engagement with a pin 22cwhich is carried by the shutter release lever 22. The other end of thebranch 27 of the electrical circuit is connected with a pair ofoppositely wound coils 33a and 33b of a relay 33. The coil 33a of therelay 33 is electrically connected with a photosensitive resistor 34which in a well known manner changes its resistance with changes in theintensity of light impinging on the resistor 34, and a fixed resistor 35is connected to the coil 33a in parallel with the photosensitiveresistor 34. The electrical means further includes a switch 36 which iscapable of being placed either in electrical connection with theresistor 35 or in electrical connection with the resistor 34,and'a'spring 37 is connected with the switch 36 to urge the latter intoengagement with the photosensitive resistor 34. The lever or switch 36is supported for rotary movement by the plate 1 and has an arm 36a for:a purpose described below. This switch 36 is electrically connectedwith the coil 33b with which it is connected in parallel to anotherbranch 38 of the electrical circuit, this branch 38 including, inseries, the interruptor switch 39 and the source of current 40. Thus,one pole of the current source 40 is connected through the branch 38with the movable contact 29b of an additional control switch 29, aspring 61 urging the movable contact 2% into its closed positionengaging the fixed contact 29a which is connected in the branch 27 ofthe circuit in the manner described above.

This movable contact 2% extends through an opening 41 formed in theouter wall of the shutter housing 42, and the movable contact 2% extendsinto a recess 43 formed in the interior of a manually turnable ring 45which has an inner surface 44 next to the recess 43 and capable ofengaging the movable contact 29b depending upon the position in whichthe operator places the ring 45. The manually turnable ring 45 forms amanually operable selecting means which enables the operator to selectone of three diflerent types of operation, as described in greaterdetail below. The ring 45 is formed at its inner surface with a pair ofadditional recesses 46 and 47. The recess 46 receives the elongated arms36a of the switch 36, this arm extending through an opening 48 formed inthe outer tubular wall 42 of the housing. The recess 47 as well as theinner surface 44 adjoining this recess cooperate with the arm 32a of thecontact lever 32. The ring 45 carries an index 49 which cooperates withthe stationary scale 50 having three markings indicating a B position,an automatic position, and a flash position. In the B position theoperator can make time exposures since the shutter will remain open aslong as the operator manually maintains theshutter in its open position.In the automatic position the structure will automatically determine theexposure time according to the lighting conditions, and in the flashposition a fixed exposure time will automatically be provided, thisfixed exposure time being suitable for flash exposures.

The electrical means described above is capable of being placed in aselect one of these three positions by the manually operable selectingmeans 45, and the structure includes in addition a blocking means 51movable between the blocking position illustrated in FIG. 1 and arelease position, this blocking means 51 when in its blocking positionblocking return of the shutter member formed by disc 9 and blade 7 toits rest position from its cocked position, this latter shutter memberof course being the trailing member of the shutter means.

The blocking means 51 is in the form of a lever which is acted upon by aspring 52 so as to be urged in a direction which displaces it to theblocking position shown in FIG. 1, and the extent to which the lever 51is turned by the spring 52 is limited by a stationary stop member 53engaged by the lever 51 and carried by the plate 1, so that in this waythe blocking position of the lever 51 is determined. The lever 51 issupported for rotary movement by a pin 54 carried by the plate 1, andthe spring 52 is coiled about the pin 54 and engages a stationary pincarried by the plate 1 as well as a pin carried by the lever 51. In itsblocking position the arm 51a of the lever 51 extends into the path ofturning of the projection 17 of the disc 9. Therefore, it prevents thespring 15 from returning the disc 9 to its rest position. In itsblocking position shown in FIG. 1 the lever 51 has an arm 51b engagingthe switch 39 and maintaining the latter closed.

A retarding mechanism cooperates with the driving disc 8 formechanically retarding the initial movement of the disc 8 from itscocked position back toward its rest position. This retarding mechanismincludes a retarding lever 57 supported for rotary movement by a pin 56which is carried by the plate 1. The lever 57 has an 29 will close.

arm 5 7a which, in the cocked position of the shutter, is situated inthe path of turning of the projection 16 of the disc 8. Also, the lever57 has an arm 57b provided with gear teeth 570 which mesh with a pinion58. The pinion 58 is fixed with a rotary mass 59 which is supportedtogether with the pinion 58 for rotary movement about a pin 60 fixedlycarried by the plate 1. Of course, instead of relying upon the inertiaof the mass 59 to provide the retarding action, it is possible to useother known retarding mechanisms such as, for example, an escapement andanchor mechanism.

In the position of the parts shown in FIG. 1, the manually operableselecting means 45 has been placed in its index 49 aligned with thegraduation B of the scale 50, so that the operator has chosen to placethe electrical means in the B position in order to make a time exposure.With the parts in this position the operator can turn the lever 22 in adirection opposite to that indicated by the arrow a, the shaft 24 beingturnable by the operator to an unillustrated structure as describedabove. The result of the turning of the shutter release lever 22 is thatthe arm 22b engages and moves the movable contact 2% away from thestationary contact 29a of the control switch 29. Immediately thereafterthe hooked end portion 22a of the lever 22 releases the arm 18c of thelever 18. The spring 21 now turns the lever 18 in the direction of thearrow b. As a result the switch 26 closes. Inasmuch as the additionalcontrol switch 28 is maintained open because the arm 32a of the lever 32which carries the contact 28b is in engagement with the surface 44, itis not possible for current to flow through the circuit even though thecontrol switch 26 has been closed. When the lever 22 turns in thedirection opposite to that indicated by the arrow a the spring 36 urgesthe arm 32a to follow the pin 220, but the extent of turning at thistime is limited by engagement of the outer arm of the lever 32 whichextends through the opening in the tubular wall 42 of the shutterhousing, this outer arm 32a being capable only at this time of engagingthe surface 44 so that the lever 32 does not follow the movement of thepin 22c at this time.

Moreover, the turning of the release lever 18 has caused its arm 18a torelease the driving disc 8 which is now urged by the spring 14 towardits rest position together with the shutter blade 6. However, theinitial movement of the leading shutter member 6, 8 toward its restposition is retarded by the retarding means 57-59. This retarding servesto compensate for a delay in the response of the relay 33. The paththatthe projection 16 of disc 8 must move through in order to displacethe lever 57 through a distance sufiicient to release the disc 8 forunrestrained movement by the spring 14 to its rest position is madegreat enough so that until the disc 8 is released to the unrestrainedforce of the spring 14 the opening 62 remains covered by the blade 6. Inother words there can be no exposure through the opening 62 as long asthe retarding means retards the movement of the disc 8.

After the lever 57 has been turned through a distance sufficient torelease the projection 16 of the lever 8 so that the retarding mechanismno longer retards the disc 8, this disc 8 can completely run down to itsrest position very suddenly under the action of the spring 14, and ofcourse the opening 62 will be uncovered so that the exposure willcommence.

The shutter will now remain open as long as the operator holds the lever22 in the position where it maintains the switch 29 open in the mannerdescribed above. At the moment when the operator releases the lever 22,however, this lever 22 can return to its initial position under theaction of the spring 25, the lever 22 turning at this time in thedirection of the arrow a. At the end of the return of the lever 22 toits rest position the switch Inasmuch as the switch 26 is also closed atthis time, the circuit will be closed through the branches 27 and 38. Asa result the relay 33 responds and the energizing of the relay willdepend upon the resistance value of the photosensitive resistor 34, theextent to which the response of the relay 33 is delayed being determinedby the intensity of the light which reaches the photosensitive resistor34. Inasmuch as the greatest possible extend of delay in response of therelay 33 due to the resistor 34 is so extremely small in relation to thelarge delay which has been manually provided by manual holding of thelever 22 in the position which maintains the switch 29 open, the veryslight additional delay provided in the response of the relay 33 due tothe resistor 34 is of absolutely no practical consequence.

At the moment when the relay 33 becomes energized it will turn the leverin the direction of the arrow 0, the arm 51b is acting as an armaturewhich is attracted to the relay 33 when the latter is energized.Therefore, the electrical means in this way displaces the blocking means51 from its blocking to its release position, and in the releaseposition the arm 51a of the blocking lever 51 is no longer in the pathof movement of the projection 17 so that the spring 15 can now turn thedisc 9 together with the blade 7 from their cocked position shown inFIG. 1 to their rest position, with the result that the opening 62 isagain closed. At the same time, the arm 51b has moved away from theswitch 39 which now automatically opens under the influence of thespringy movable contact which moves by its own inherent resiliency awayfrom the stationary contact as soon as the springy movable contact is nolonger engaged by the arm 51b. The opening of the switch 39 bydisplacement of the blocking means to its release position results ininterruption of the current flow through the circuit which of course isopened upon opening of the interruptor switch 39.

In this way an exposure takes place with the structure of FIG. 1 whenthe operator selects the B position according to which it is possiblefor the operator to make a time exposure. When the operator next cocksthe shutter, the operator will through an unillustrated well knownstructure manually turn the shaft 2 together with the lever 3 in thedirection of the arrow d in opposition to the spring 4, so that thelever 3 moves away from the stop 5. The lever 3 will now engage theprojection 16 to displace the latter together with the disc 8 and theblade 6 in the direction of the arrow 0., and since in the rest positionthe projection 17 engages the projection 16, the disc 9 also turnstogether with the blade 7, so that during cocking of the shutter thereis no relative movement between the blades 6 and 7 and the opening 62remains covered. The operator continues to turn the cocking lever 3until the lever 3 by engagement with the arm 13b has turned the lever 18in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow b through anangle sufficient to cause the arm 18c to engage behind the hooked end22a of the lever 22, and at this time the arm 18a will have also engagedbehind the projection 20, so that the operator can now release the lever3 for return movement to its rest position, and the parts will now againbe in the position of FIG. 1 ready for the next exposure.

Assuming now that with the parts in the position shown in FIG. 1 theoperator decides to make an exposure with flash illumination, then theoperator will simply turn the manually operable selecting means 45 untilits index 49 is aligned with the flash symbol of the scale 50, so thatin this way the electrical means is placed in the flash position. Theresult of this turning of the ring 45 is that the end 46a of the recess46 engages the arm 36a of the switch 36 and turns the latter until itscontact arm 36b engages the fixed resistor 35, so that now the fixedresistor 35 is connected into the branch 38 of the circuit and thephotosensitive resistor 34 is no longer connected into the circuit. Onthe other hand, the openings 43 and 47 also have been angularlydisplaced. As a result the opening 7 47 is now aligned with theoutwardly directed arm of the lever 32 and is in a position forreceiving this arm, while at the same time the control surface 44 at theinterior of the ring 45 has engaged and moved the contact arm 2% of theswitch 29 so that this latter switch is now open and remains open aslong as the ring 45 remains in the flash position.

Now when the operator turns the release lever 22 in a direction oppositeto that indicated by the arrow a, the lever 22 will of course releasethe lever 18 while on the other hand the spring 30 will be capable ofcontinuing to turn the lever 32 beyond the position thereof shown inFIG. 1 with the outer arm of the lever 32 extending into the recess 47,so that the result is that at this time the switch 28 will close, and ofcourse the switch 29 is maintained open as pointed out above. Themovement of the lever 18 by the spring 21 in the direction of the arrowb has of course released the projection and in addition the switch 26has become closed. The disc 3 is thus released for return to its restposition, although its initial movement is delayed by the retardingmeans as pointed out above. As a result of the simultaneous closing ofthe switches 26 and 28 current can flow through the circuits 27 and 38,and the result is that the relay 33 is energized. Of course, during thecocking of the shutter the spring 52 has returned the lever 51 to itsblocking position as soon as the projection 17 moved beyond the free endof the arm 51a. The energizing of the relay 33 is delayed, however,inasmuch as the fixed resistor 35 is located in the circuit of the coil33a, the building up of the field of the relay 33 being delayed for apredetermined time as a result of the magnitude of the resistor 35. Thismagnitude of the resistor 35 is so chosen that the delay period in theresponse of the relay 33 will provide an exposure time suitable for aflash exposure, this exposure time being on the order of 1/30 sec., forexample. As soon as the relay 33 responds the blocking means 51 will ofcourse be displaced to its release position so as to release the disc 9in the manner described above, and thus the exposure can be terminatedand the interrupter switch 39 will automatically open so that the flowof current through the circuit is interrupted.

If the operator has chosen to make an automatic exposure, then of coursethe index 49 has been placed in alignment with the symbol A of the scale50, and at this time the operations which take place are precisely thesame as those described above in connection with flash illumination,except that the movement of the index 49 into alignment with the symbolA does not displace the end 46a of the recess 46 through a distancesufficient to turn the switch 36 away from its position shown in FIG. 1,so that at this time the photosensitive resistor 34 is in .the circuitand thus the extent to which the response of the relay 33 is delayedwill be determined by the photosensitive resistor 34 in accordance withthe lighting conditions, and therefore the exposure time will bedetermined by the lighting conditions. Except for this difference ofhaving the photosensitive resistor 34 in the circuit instead of thefixed resistor 35, all of the above-described operations which takeplace during flash illumination take place during illumination withautomatic determination of the exposure time.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 2, thereis also a shutter means having leading and trailing members andconstructed precisely as described above, with respect to its mechanicalstructure, as distinguished from its electrical structure, so that thedescription of the mechanical structure of FIG. 2 which is identicalwith that of FIG. 1 is not repeated, and the same reference charactersare used for the identical elements.

The electrical means of FIG. 2 includes a source of current 70 to whicha movable contact 71a of a switch 71 is electrically connected, thisswitch 71 having an intermediate stationary contact 7112 with which themovable contact 71a cooperates as well as an additional movable Acontact 710 on the other side of the stationary contact 71]) from themovable contact 71a. The control switch 71 of FIG. 2 takes over thefunctions which correspond to those performed by the switches 28 and 29of FIG. 1. The movable contact 710 of this switch is carried by a lever73 which is turnable about a pin 72 carried by the plate 11. A spring 74is operatively connected to the control lever 73 to urge the latter toturn in the direction of the arrow e. In the illustrated position thelever 73 has its free end in engagement with the inner surface of themanually turnable ring 88 which forms the manually operable selectingmeans of this embodiment. The contact 7112, which is stationary, isconnected by a conductor 75 with a movable contact 76a of a controlswitch 76. The contact 710 is electrically connected through a conductor77 with the contact 76b of the control switch 76, this contact 761)being stationary so that the movable contact 76a can move into and outof engagement with the contact 7612. Between the contact 7 6b and thesource of current 70 are a pair of parallel circuit branches '78 and 79which respectively are provided with the relay 80 and the pair ofparallel connected resistors one of which is the photosensitive resistor81 and the other of which is the fixed resistor 82. Thus, this branch 79of the circuit is provided with the switch 83 which can alternately beconnected electrically with one of the resistors 81 or 82. This switch83 is supported for turning movement by a pin 84 carried by the plate 1,and the switch 83 has an arm 85 which is capable of determining theposition of the switch 83. A spring 36 is connected to the switch 83 tourge the latter to turn in the direction of the arrow 1 where the switchis connected to the photosensitive resistor 81. A capacitor 81a isconnected into the circuit of the switch 83 so as to become charged toan extent determined by the magnitude of the resistors 81 or 82, andthen during subsequent discharge of the capacitor 81a the relay 80 willbe maintained energized for a time period determined by the extent towhich the capacitor is charged.

The manually turnable ring 88 which forms the manually operableselecting means of FIG. 2 concentrically surrounds the outer tubularwall 87 of the shutter housing and carries the index 89 which cooperateswith the stationary scale 90. The scale 90 has a pair of adjustingranges for flash exposure and for time exposures in the B position, andeach of these ranges is provided with a series of graduations indicatingaperture settings of an unillustrated diaphragm of the assembly. Betweenthese diaphragm-setting ranges for the B position and the flash positionis situated the automatic position. Moreover, the ring 88 has aninwardly directed projection 91 which when the ring 88 is set for flashor time exposures will alternately cooperate with the pins 92 and 93which respectively project from a pair of diaphragm adjusting ringseither of which when turned relative to the other will adjust theexposure aperture provided by the diaphragm.

The ring 88 is provided at its inner surface with a pair of recesses 94and 95 between which the ring has its inner control surface 96. Therecess 94 cooperates with the lever 73 while the recess 95 cooperateswith the arm 85 of the switch 83.

Assuming now that the operator has placed the index 89 at the B range soas to set the electrical means in the B position for providing a timeexposure, then when the operator turns the shaft 24 and the releaselever 22 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow a, thearm 22b will engage the movable contact 71a and place it in engagementwith the stationary contact 71b, so that now the current can flowthrough the closed circuit. The result is that the relay 80 becomesenergized and turns the blocking lever 97, which forms the blockingmeans of FIG. 2, in opposition to the spring 99 in the direction of thearrow g, so that the arm 97a of the lever 97 will now be situated in thepath of turning of the projection 17 of the driving disc 9. Therefore,the driving 9 disc 9 is blocked against running down movement with theblade 7. It is to be noted that with the embodiment of FIG. 2 the relay80 when energized displaces the blocking means from its released to itsblocking position while it is the deenergizing of the relay 80 whichreleases the blocking means 97 for movement by the spring 99 from itsblocking to its release position.

During the further turning of the release lever 22, its hooked end 22areleases the arm 180 of the release lever 18, so that now the spring 21can turn the lever 18 in the direction of the arrow b. As a result thearm 18a will leave the projection 20 of the driving disc 8 so that thelatter can now run down under the action of the spring 14, this runningdown however being initially retarded, as was the case with theembodiment of FIG. 1, by the retarding means 57-59. After overcoming theretarding means the blade 6 will be displaced to a position uncoveringthe opening 62 so as to commence the exposure. The turning of the lever18 in the direction of the arrow b has also caused the arm 18a to engagethe movable contact 76a of switch 76 and displace it away fromstationary contact 76b, so that the switch 76 is now open. However, atthis time the circuit is not broken inasmuch as the switch 76 is bridgedby the conductor 77 and the contacts 71b, 71c. Therefore, the relay 80remains energized and holds the blocking means 97 in its blockingposition.

Only at the moment when the operator releases the lever 22 does the arm22b thereof move away from the contact 71a which under its ownresiliency will displace itself away from the stationary contact 711),so that now the circuit will be interrupted. Now the relay 80, after arelatively small but insignificant delay, from the standpoint of thetime exposure, resulting from the value of the resistance of thephotosensitive resistor 81, will become deenergized, so that theblocking means 97 is released to the spring 99 which displaces theblocking means to its release position shown in FIG. 2, and in thisrelease position the arm 97a is of course situated beyond the projection17 sothat the spring 15 can now turn the trailing member 7, 9 of theshutter to its rest position, and thus the opening 62 will be closed andthe exposure will be terminated.

In order to make an exposure with flash illumination, the manuallyoperable selecting means 88 is turned by the operator until the index 89thereof is aligned with a selected aperture graduation of the flashrange of the scale 90. As a result the arm 91 of the ring 88 turns inthe direction of the arrow h. The pin 92 will initially follow the arm91, this pin 92 being fixed to a diaphragm adjusting ring which is urgedby an unillustrated spring in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFIG. 2, so that the pin 92 will follow the arm 91. However, thecontinued turning of the ring 88 will displace the projection 91 awayfrom the pin 92 and into engagement with the projection 93 which isconnected to the other diaphragm adjusting ring, so that now thecontinued movement of the pin 93 with the arm 91 will result inadjusting of the aperture to a selected value of the flash range of thescale 90. During this turning of the ring 88 the recess 94 thereof hasbecome situated in alignment with the control lever 73. Therefore, thislever 73 can be turned by the spring 74 in the direction of thearrow e.As a result the engagement between the movable contact 710 and thestationary contact 71b of the switch 71 is interrupted, and this part ofthe switch is therefore opened. The turning of the ring 88 also resultsin displacement of the inclined surface 95a at the end of the recess 95into engagement with the arm 85 so that the free end of the latter willengage the inner surface 96 of the ring 88, and the result is that thearm 83 will be turned in opposition to the spring 86 in a directionopposite to that indicated by the arrow 1. When the end of the arm 85engages the control surface 96 the switch 83 has been placed inelectrical connection with the fixed resistor 82 and is no longer 10 inelectrical connection with the photosensitive resistor 81 of the branch79 of the circuit.

Now when the operator actuates the release shaft 24 so as to turn therelease lever 22 in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrowat, the arm 2212 will place the movable contact 71a into engagement withthe stationary contact 71b so as to close this part of the circuit 71.As a result the current flows through the conductor '75. This results inenergizing of the relay 80 which acts on the armature portion of thelever 97 so as to turn the latter to the blocking position where the arm97a is situated in the path of turning of the projection 17 of the disc9.

During a further turning of the lever 22 its hooked portion 22a releasesthe arm 18c so that the spring 21 can now turn the lever 18 in thedirection of the arrow b. Thus, the arm 18a will move away from theprojection 20 so as to release the disc 8 which now can run down afterbeing initially retarded by the means 5759, and thus the opening 6 willbe uncovered and the exposure will commence.

The turning of the lever 18 in addition causes its arm 18a to open theswitch 76. Thus, the flow of current in the circuit is interrupted.Inasmuch as, however, the resistor 82 acts as a shunt resistor, thede-energizing of the relay 80 will be delayed because the balancingcurrent of the shunt circuit returns to its own coil. Also, thedeenergizing of the relay 80 will be determined in accordance with theextent to which the capacitor 81a was charged, as pointed out above. Theextent of the delay depends upon the magnitude of the resistance of thefixed resistor 82, and this magnitude is so chosen that an exposure timewill be provided which is also suitable for making an exposure whenusing flash illumination with a flash bulb device. Upon de-energizing ofthe relay 80 the blocking means 97 will be displaced by the spring 99 toits release position, in which it is shown in FIG. 2, and thus theprojections 17 will be released. As a result the trailing member 7, 9 ofthe shutter means can now follow the leading member under the action ofthe spring 15 so that the shutter blade 7 closes the opening 62 and theexposure is terminated.

During the exposure with the index 89 of FIG. 2 in the automaticposition, all of the parts will operate in the same way as when theindex 89 is in the flash position. However, in this case it is thephotosensitive resistor 81 which will be connected into the circuitinstead of its resistor 82, and the extent of the exposure time willtherefore be determined by the value of the photo sensitive resistor 81,the value of this latter resistance of course being automaticallydetermined by the light intensity. Of course, when the index 89 is inthe automatic position the arm of the switch 83 remains in the recess 85while the arm 73 of course is displaced into the recess 94.

With the embodiment of FIG. 3 there is also a mechanical shutterarrangement similar to that of FIG. 1. However, the difference betweenthe embodiment of FIG. 3 and that of FIGS. 1 and 2 resides primarily inthe fact that a relay 100 is relied upon to release the leading shuttermember 6, 8, while a relay 101 is relied upon to release the trailingshutter member 7, 9. The relay 100 is connected through the circuitbranches 102, 103 and 105 in series with the interruptor switch 106 aswell as with the source of current 107 and a control switch 108. Betweenthe branches 102 and 103 there is connected an additional control switch109 which is in parallel with the control switch 108. Furthermore, thecircuit branches 110, 111, and 112 connect a further control switch 113in parallel with the relay 100. This switch 113 being located in thecircuit which is in parallel with the relay 100 in series with the relay101 and the switch 114 which serves to alternately connect into thecircuit either the photosensitive resistor 115 or the fixed resistor116, these latter resistorsbeing connected into 11 that part of thecircuit which includes the branches 110-112.

A release lever 117 forms the shutter release means of this embodimentand is fixedly carried by a rotary shaft 118 which can be manuallyturned by the operator through an unillustrated structure. The turningof the release lever 117 by the operator enables this release lever toengage and close the switch 108. The release lever 117 is acted upon bya spring 119 which seeks to turn the lever 117 in a direction oppositeto that indicated by the arrow l, until the lever 117 engages thestationary stop member 120 which is carried by the support plate 1. Inthis rest position of the lever 117 the switch 108 is open, this switchbeing a normally open switch having a springy movable contact which byits own resiliency assumes a position spaced from the stationary contactof the switch. The release lever 117 can also cooperate with the movablecontact 113a of the additional control switch 113. A spring 121 isoperatively connected to the movable contact 113a, and this spring 121seeks to maintain the movable contact 113a in engagement with therelease lever 117. In the position of the parts shown in FIG. 3, wherethe parts are in their rest position, the lever 117 holds the switch 113in its closed position. When the lever 117 turns in the direction of thearrow l, the contact 113a can move away from the stationary contact 113aof the switch 113 so as to open the switch 113. During such movement thearm 122 which is connected to the movable contact 113a will move withrespect to the recess 123 which is formed at the interior of themanually operable selecting ring 124.

The ring 124 carries an index 125 which cooperates with a stationaryscale 126. The scale 126 has the symbols for the three positions of theelectrical means of FIG. 3, namely the B position, for time exposures,the automatic position for exposures automatically deter- ,mined inaccordance with the lighting conditions, and

for flash exposures. When the ring 124 is turned to a position differentfrom that shown in FIG. 3, the surface 127 at the interior of the ring124 and located next to the recess 123 thereof engages the free end ofthe arm 122 and prevents movement of the contact 113a by the spring 121so that independently of the turning of the release lever 117 by theoperator the switch 113 remains closed. In order to release the drivingdisc 8 of the shutter a release lever 129 is supported for turningmovement on a fixed pin 128 carried by the plate 1. The lever 129 has aportion which acts as an armature for the relay 100, and a spring 130urges the lever 129 to the illustrated position where its end 129acooperates with the projection 20 to maintain the shutter in its cockedposition. The energizing of the relay 100 will displace the lever 129 inopposition to the spring 130 in the direction of the arrow m. As aresult its portion 129a will release the projection 20 so that theleading shutter member 6, 8 will be released. At the same time the arm12% of the lever 129 releases a movable contact 109a of a normallyclosed switch 109 for movement into engagement with the stationarycontact 10911 thereof, and thus the displacement of the lever 129 by therelay 100 will also result in closing of the switch 109.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 includes a blocking means 131 which in its restposition is in a blocking position blocking running down of the trailingmember 7, 9 of the shutter means, and this blocking means takes the formof a lever 131 supported for turning movement about a pin 132 which iscarried by the plate 1. The lever 131 is urged by a spring 133 to theillustrated blocking position. When the relay 101 becomes energized thelever 131 is turned by attraction of its armature portion to the relay101 in the direction of the arrow n, in opposition to the spring 133.This movement displaces the blocking arm 131a away from the path ofmovement of the projection 17 of the driving disc 9 so that the latteris free to be turned by the spring 15 together with the shutter blade 7to the rest position. At the same time the movement of the arm 13112toward the coil of the relay 101 opens the switch 186 by releasing themovable contact 106a thereof for movement due to its own inherentresiliency away from the stationary contact 1061) of the switch. In thisway the interruptor switch 106 opens when the blocking means isdisplaced by the relay 101 to its release position.

The ring 124 is provided not only with the recess 123 but also with asecond recess 134 which at one end is defined by an inclined surface 135which leads from the interior of the recess 134 to the inner controlsurface 136 of the ring 124 which forms the manually operable selectingmeans of FIG. 3. The recess 134 and the inclined surface 135 togetherwith the surface 136 cooperate with the arm 114a of the switch 114. Thisswitch is supported for rotary movement about a stationary pin 137 andis acted upon by .a spring 138 so as to be urged into engagement withthe photosensitive resistor 115, the spring 138 urging the switch 114 toturn in the direction of the arrow 0. The elongated contact arm 11% iselectrically connected with the circuit branch 111. Thus, through thecont-act 1141) it is possible to connect into the circuit either thehotosensitive resistor 115 or the fixed resistor 116.

In order to make a time exposure the index 125 is placed in theillustrated B position, and the shaft 118 is manually turned through theunillustrated structure accessible to the operator, so as to turn thelever 117 therewith in the direction of the arrow l. As a result theswitch 113 opens during the initial movement of the lever 117.Immediately thereafter the lever 117 closes the control switch 108. Theclosing of the control switch 108 enables current to flow through thecircuit branches 102, 103, 104, 105, with the result that the relaybecomes energized. Therefore, the lever 129 is turned in the directionof the arrow m. Its arms 129a releases the projection 20 of the drivingdisc 8, so that the leading shutter member 6, 8 can now turn under theinfluence of the spring 14 in the direction of the arrow 7. In this waythe blade 6 moves to its rest position and uncovers the opening 62 so asto initiate the exposure. At the same time the turning of the arm 12912of the lever permits the switch 109 to close.

After the period of time chosen by the operator has elapsed, theoperator will release the lever 117 so that it can be returned by thespring 119 to the rest position shown in FIG. 3, and thus the switch 108opens while the switch 113 is closed. Therefore, the current can nowflow from the source 107 through the addition-a1 control switch 109, the(branches 103, 112, the photosensitive resistor 115, the switch 114, therelay 101, the branch 111, the additional control switch 113, the branch110, the branch 104, the interruptor switch 106 and the branch as wellas the relay 100. The relay 101 therefore becomes energized and turnsthe blocking means 131 in the direction of the arrow n. Therefore, thearm 131a releases the projection 17 so that the trailing shutter member7, 9 can be turned by the spring 15 to its rest position in thedirection of the arrow p, and thus the blade 7 closes the opening 62 andthe exposure is terminated. The turning of the lever 131 also results inopening the interruptor switch 106, so that the relays 100 and 101become unenergized.

During the cocking of the shutter the discs 8 and 9 together wit-h theblades 6 and 7 turn in a direction opposite to that indicated by thearrow 2, as .a result of the turning of the cocking lever 3 in themanner described above. At the end of the cocking movement the lever 129can engage with its :arm 129a behind the projection 20 and the blockingmeans 131 will return with its arm 131 in the path of movement of theprojection 17.

In order to make an exposure with flash illumination, the operator turnsthe manually operable selecting ring 124 until its index 125 is alignedwith the flash symbol of the scale 126. As a result the surface 127engages the free end of the arm 122 and thus locks the switch 113 in itsclosed position. At the same time the inclined surface 135 and then thesurface 136 engage the arm 114a of the switch 114 so as to turn thelatter in the direction of the arrow 0, thus placing the contact 11411in engagement with the fixed resistor 116 which is now located in thecircuit instead of the photosensitive resistor 115.

Now when the operator turns the lever 117 in the direction of the arrowl, the switch 103 closes. Of course, the switch 113 remains closed. Thecurrent can now flow from the source 107 through the branch 102, theswitch 108, the relay 100, the branch 104, the interruptor switch 106and the branch 105, so that the relay 100 is energized. As a result therelease lever 129 turns in the direction of the arrow m and its arm 129amoves away from the projection 20 so that the leading shutter member 6,8 is released for movement to its rest position by the spring 14. At thesame time the current can flow from the source 107 through the controlswitch 1%, the branch 112, the fixed resistor 116, the switch 114, therelay 101, the bran-ch111, the additional control switch 113, the branch110, 104, the interruptor switch 106 and the branch 105. As a result ofthe flow of current through the resistor 106 the relay 10-1 becomesenergized after'a predetermined time interval. The size of the resistor106 is chosen so that an exposure time suitable for flash illuminationwill be provided, this exposure time being, for example, 1/30 sec. Theresponding of the relay 101 results in movement of the blocking means131 to its release position in the direction of the arrow 11, so thatthe arm 131a moves away from the projection 17 permitting the trailingmember 7, 9 of the shutter means to turn in the direction of the arrow punder the influence of the spring 15, so that now the opening 62 isclosed by the blade 7 and the exposure is terminated.

At the same time the turning of the lever 131 in the direction of thearrow 11 opens the switch 106 so that the iflow of current in thecontrol circuit is terminated.

" In the event that the operator very quickly releases the lever 117 forreturn to its rest position, it is possible that this release will takeplace before termination of the exposure, and for this purpose theclosed switch 109 will maintain the circuit closed even if the switch103 should open, so that a proper exposure will :be achieved even underthese conditions.

The operation of the structure with the index in the automatic positionwhere the index 125 is aligned with the intermediate symbol of the scale26 provides substantially the same operation as when the operatorchooses a flash exposure. The only difference is that in this caseinstead of the resistor 116 being in the circuit, the photosensitiveresistor 115 is connected into the circuit, so that the moment when therelay 101 responds will be determined by the light intensity.

The invention is of course not limited to the particular detailsdescribed above. For example the invention is equally useful with othertypes of shutters having leading and trailing shutter members where theleading member moves from its cocked to its rest position in advance ofthe trailing member to initiate the exposure while the trailing memberthen moves from cocked to its rest position to terminate the exposure.Such a shutter can include, for example, a plurality of shutter bladescontrolled by a pair of rings one of which is a leading ring which turnswith respect to the trailing ring after both rings have been placed intheir cocked positions so as to open the shutter while the trailing ringthen turns from its cocked to its rest position to close the shutter.Also, the invention can be used with a focal plane shutter. Moreover,the structure of the invention can be used with that type -of automaticshutter which is immediately released to make an exposure as soon as thecocking thereof is completed.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofcameras differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inshutters, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analyiss, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a camera, in combination, shutter means having leading andtrailing members both of which are movable from cocked to restpositions, said leading member of said shutter means moving from saidcocked to said rest position thereof in advance of said trailing memberso as to expose film and said trailing member of said shutter means thenmoving from said cocked to said rest position thereof to terminate anexposure; blocking means movable between blocking and release positionsand when in said blocking position thereof blocking movement of saidtrailing member from said cocked to said rest position thereof;electrical means cooperating with said blocking means for moving thelatter from said blocking to said release position thereof to releasesaid trailing member for movement from said cocked to said rest positionthereof; and manually operable means operatively connected to saidelectrical means for placing the latter in a selected one of threepositions, namely, a B position, an automatic position, and a flashposition, said manually operable means when placing said electricalmeans in said B position providing manual determination of thetermination of the exposure so that said electrical means is actuated bythe operator to displace said blocking means from said blocking to saidrest position at an instant selected by the operator in order to maketime exposures, said electrical means when placed by said manuallyoperable means in said automatic position automatically determining theinstant of displacement of said blocking means from said blocking tosaid release position in accordance with the lighting conditions, andsaid electrical means when in said flash position automaticallydisplacing said blocking means from said blocking to said releaseposition after a period of time suitable for making flash exposures.

2. In a camera as recited in claim 1, said blocking means including ablocking member which in said blocking position of said blocking meansis in the path of movement of said trailing member from said cocked tosaid rest position thereof and which in said release position of saidblocking means is displaced from said path of movement, and saidelectrical means including a relay, said blocking member having aportion which forms an armature of said relay so that energizing anddeenergizing of said relay will control the position of said blockingmember, said blocking means also including a spring.

fixed resistor and a photosensitive resistor as well as a switch whichin one position places said fixed resistor in said circuit and inanother position places said photosensitive resistor in said circuit,said manually operable means placing said switch in a position locatingsaid fixed resistor in said circuit when said manually operable meansplaces said electrical means in said flash position and said manuallyoperable means placing said switch in said position which places saidphotosensitive resistor in said circuit when said manually operablemeans places said electrical means in said automatic position thereof.

4. In a camera, in combination, shutter means including leading andtrailing shutter members both movable from cocked to rest positions,said leading member moving from its cocked to its rest position inadvance of said trailing member to expose film and said trailing memberthen moving from its cocked to its rest position to terminate theexposure; blocking means movable between blocking and release positionsand when in its blocking position blocking return of said trailingmember from said cocked to said rest position thereof; electrical meansincluding a relay operatively connected to said blocking means fordisplacing the latter from said blocking to said release position whensaid relay is energized, said elec trical means including an electricalcircuit in which said relay is located and having also a pair ofparallel branches in which a pair of switches of said circuit arerespectively located; manually operable means operatively connected tosaid electrical means for placing the latter in a selected one of threepositions, namely, a B position where the energizing of said relay ismanually determined so as to provide time exposures, an automaticposition where the energizing of said relay is automatically determinedaccording to the lighting conditions, and a fiash position where theenergizing of said relay is determined automatically after a period oftime suitable for fiash exposure, said manually operable means whenplacing said electrical means in said B position maintaining one of saidswitches open and when placing said electrical means in either one ofthe other two of said three positions maintaining the other of saidswitches open; and manually operable release means operatively connectedto said shutter means for actuating the latter to make an exposure, saidmanually operable release means cooperating with whichever one of saidswitches is not maintained open by said manually operable means foractuating the latter switch.

5. In a camera, in combination, shutter means including leading andtrailing members both movable from cocked to rest positions, saidleading member moving from its cocked to its rest position in advance ofsaid trailing member to make an exposure and said trailing member thenmoving from its cocked to its rest position to terminate the exposure;blocking means movable between blocking and release positions and whenin said blocking position blocking return of said trailing member fromsaid cocked to said rest position thereof; spring means operativelyconnected to said blocking means for urging the latter to said releaseposition; relay means operatively connected to said blocking means forurging the latter when said relay means is energized in opposition tosaid spring means to said blocking position: an electrical circuit inwhich said relay means is located, said electrical circuit having a pairof parallel branches in which a control switch and an additional switchare respectively located; manually operable selecting means operativelyconnected to said electrical circuit for placing the latter in a Bposition for making time exposures and in at least one additionalposition for another type of exposure; and manually operable releasemeans operatively connected to said shutter means for actuating thelatter to make an exposure, said manually operable release meansactuating said additional switch for closing the parallel branch of saidcircuit which does not include said control switch when said manuallyoperable means places said electrical circuit in said B position and forclosing the parallel branch of said circuit which includes said controlswitch when said electrical means is placed by said manually operablemeans in said other position.

6. In a camera as recited in claim 5, said additional switch includingan intermediate stationary contact electrically connected to theparallel branch in which said control switch is located, a first movablecontact, said circuit including a source of current connected to saidfirst movable contact and said manually operable shutter release meansengaging said first movable contact to place the latter in engagementwith said intermediate contact upon actuation of said manually operablerelease means and maintaining said first movable contact in engagementwith said intermediate contact during the duration of the actuation ofsaid manually operable release means, and a second movable contactengaging said intermediate contact when said manually operable meansplaces said electrical means in said B position and displaced by saidmanually operable means from said intermediate contact when saidelectrical means is in said position for said other type of exposure,said second movable contact being connected electrically with theparallel branch of said circuit which includes said control circuit.

7. In a camera, in combination, shutter means including a leading memberand a trailing member both movable from cocked to rest positions, saidleading member moving in advance of said trailing member from saidcocked to said rest position to expose film and said trailing memberthen moving from said cocked to said rest position for terminating anexposure; blocking means movable between blocking and release positionsand when in said blocking position blocking movement of said trailingmember from said cocked to said release position thereof; first relaymeans operatively connected to said leading member for releasing thelatter for movement from its cocked to its rest position; second relaymeans operatively connected to said blocking means for displacing thelatter from said blocking to said release position thereof; andelectrical means forming a circuit in which said first and second relaymeans are located, said electrical means including parallel branches inwhich said first relay means and second relay means are respectivelylocated.

8. In a camera as recited in claim 7, said parallel branch whichincludes said second relay means also including aphot-osensitveresistor, a switch for connecting said photosensitive resistor into thecircuit, and a control switch; and manually operable release means forclosing said control switch to energize said first relay means toinitiate an exposure.

9. In a camera as recited in claim 8, said parallel branch of saidcircuit which includes said second relay means also including a fixedresistor capable of being placed in said circuit instead of saidphotosensitive resistor.

10. In a camera as recited in claim 8, an additional control switchconnected in parallel with said first-mentioned control switch and inseries with both of said relay means, said first relay means whenenergized to release said leading member of said shutter means closingsaid additional control switch.

11. In a camera, in combination, shutter means including leading andtrailing members, said leading member moving from a cocked to a restposition in advance of movement of said trailing member from a cocked toa res-t position in order to expose film and said trailing member thenmoving from its cocked to its rest position to terminate the exposure;blocking means movable between blocking and release positions and whenin said blocking position preventing movement of said trailing memberfrom said cocked to said rest position thereof; electrical meanscooperating with said blocking means for controlling the movementthereof between said positions; manually operable means cooperating withsaid electrical means for placing the latter in a B position for makingtime exposures and in at least one additional position for making adifferent type of exposure; and diaphragm-operating means for adjustinga diaphragm of the camera, said diaphragm-operating means beingconnected with said manually operable means to be actuated thereby.

12. In a camera as recited in claim 11, said diaphragmoperating meansincluding a projection fixed to and extending from said manuallyoperable means and a pair of diaphragm-adjusting pins one of which isengaged by said projection when said manually operable means moves inone direction and the other of which is engaged by said projection whensaid manually operable means moves in an opposite direction, saidmanually operable means when moving in said one direction providing saidB position and when moving in said opposite direction providing saidadditional position.

13. In a camera, in combination, shutter means including leading andtrailing members movable from cocked to rest positions, said leadingmember of said shutter means moving from said cocked to said restposition to expose film and said trailing member of said shutter meansthen moving from its cocked to its rest position to terminate theexposure of film; releasable blocking means movable between blocking andrelease positions, said releasable blocking means blocking return ofsaid trailing member from said cocked to said rest position thereof whensaid leading member moves from said cocked to said rest positionthereof; electrical means cooperating with said blocking means fordisplacing the latter from said blocking to said release positionthereof to release said trailing member for movement from its cocked toits rest position so as to terminate an exposure; manually operablecontrol means operatively connected to said electrical means for placingthe latter at least in a B condition for making bulk exposures in whichcondition said electrical means is unable to automatically displace saidblocking means from blocking to release position a predetermined timeperiod after movement of said leading member from cocked to restposition; and manually operable release means movable between aninoperative position and an actuating position and connected on the onehand to said shutter means for releasing said leading member uponmovement of said manually operable release means from said inoperativeto said actuating position thereof and connected on the other hand withsaid electrical means for actuating the latter, when the latter is insaid B position thereof, and thereby displacing said blocking means fromblocking into release position upon return movement of said manuallyoperative release means from said actuating into said inoperativeposition thereof.

14. In a camera, in combination, shutter means having leading andtrailing members both of which are movable from cooked to restpositions, said leading member of said shutter means moving from saidcocked to said rest position thereof in advance of said trailing memberso as to expose film and said trailing member of said shutter means thenmoving from said cocked to said rest position thereof to terminate anexposure; blocking means movable between blocking and release positionsand when in said blocking position thereof blocking movement of saidtrailing member from said cocked to said rest position thereof;electrical means cooperating with said blocking means for moving thelatter from said blocking to said release position thereof to releasesaid trailing member for movement from said cocked to said rest positionthereof; manually operable control means operatively connected to saidelectrical means for placing the latter in a first condition for makinga B exposure in which condition said electrical means is unable toautomatically displace said blocking means from blocking to releaseposition a predetermined time period after movement of said leadingmember from cocked to rest position and in at least one additionalcondition for making a different type of exposure, and manually operablerelease means movable between an inoperative position and an actuatingposition and connected on the one hand to said shutter means forreleasing said leading member upon movement of said manually operablerelease means from said inoperative to said actuating position thereofand connected on the other hand with said electrical means for actuatingthe latter, when the latter is in said B position thereof, and therebydisplacing said blocking means from blocking into release position, uponreturn movement of said manually operable release means from saidactuating into said inoperative position thereof so that said electricalmeans is actuated by the operator to displace said blocking means fromsaid blocking to said release position at an instant selected by theoperator, in order to make time exposures.

15. In a camera, in combination, shutter means including leading andtrailing shutter members both movable from cocked to rest positions,said leading member moving from its cocked to its rest position inadvance of said trailing member to expose film and said trailing memberthen moving from its cocked to its rest position to terminate theexposure; blocking means movable between blocking and release positionsand when in its I blocking position blocking return of said trailingmember from said cocked to said rest position thereof; electrical meansincluding a relay operatively connected to said locking means fordisplacing the latter from one to the other of said positions thereof,said electrical means including an electrical circuit in which saidrelay is located and having also a pair of parallel branches in which apair of switches of said circuit are respectively located; manuallyoperable selector means operatively connected to said electrical meansfor placing the latter in a B condition, where the actuation of saidrelay is manually determined so as to provide time exposures, and in atleast one additional condition for making a different type of exposure,said manually operable selector means when placing said electrical meansin said B condition maintaining one of said switches open and whenplacing said electrical means in said one additional conditionmaintaining the other of said switches open; and manually operablerelease means operatively connected to said shutter means for actuatingthe latter to make an exposure, said manually operable release meanscooperating with whichever one of said switches is not maintained openby said manually operable means for actuating the latter switch andthereby said relay.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,663,235 12/1953Fuerst -63 2,890,640 6/1959 Noack 9563 2,978,970 4/1961 Fahlenberg9511.5 3,069,989 12/1962 Kiper 95-63 OTHER REFERENCES German printedapplication 1,159,261, December 1963. JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner,

1. IN A CAMERA, IN COMBINATION, SHUTTER MEANS HAVING LEADING ANDTRAILING MEMBERS BOTH OF WHICH ARE MOVABLE FROM COCKED TO RESTPOSITIONS, SAID LEADING MEMBER OF SAID SHUTTER MEANS MOVING FROM SAIDCOCKED TO SAID REST POSITION THEREOF IN ADVANCE OF SAID TRAILING MEMBERSO AS TO EXPOSE FILM AND SAID TRAILING MEMBER OF SAID SHUTTER MEANS THENMOVING FROM SAID COCKED TO SAID REST POSITION THEREOF TO TERMINATE ANEXPOSURE; BLOCKING MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN BLOCKING AND RELEASE POSITIONSAND WHEN IN SAID BLOCKING POSITION THEREOF BLOCKING MOVEMENT OF SAIDTRAILING MEMBER FROM SAID COCKED TO SAID REST POSITION THEREOF;ELECTRICAL MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID BLOCKING MEANS FOR MOVING THELATTER FROM SAID BLOCKING TO SAID RELEASE POSITION THEREOF TO RELEASESAID TRAILING MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT FROM SAID COCKED TO SAID REST POSITIONTHEREOF; AND MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAIDELECTRICAL MEANS FOR PLACING THE LATTER IN A SELECTED ONE OF THREEPOSITIONS, NAMELY, A B POSITION, AN AUTOMATIC POSITION, AND A FLASHPOSITION, SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS WHEN PLACING SAID ELECTRICALMEANS IN SAID B POSITION PROVIDING MANUAL DETERMINATION OF THETERMINATION OF THE EXPOSURE SO THAT SAID ELECTRICAL MEANS IS ACTUATED BYTHE OPERATOR TO DISPLACE SAID BLOCKING MEANS FROM SAID BLOCKING TO SAIDREST POSITION AT AN INSTANT SELECTED BY THE OPERATOR IN ORDER TO MAKETIME EXPOSURES, SAID ELECTRICAL MEANS WHEN PLACED BY SAID MANUALLYOPERABLE MEANS IN SAID AUTOMATIC POSITION AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING THEINSTANT OF DISPLACEMENT OF SAID BLOCKING MEANS FROM SAID BLOCKING TOSAID RELEASE POSITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS, ANDSAID ELECTRICAL MEANS WHEN IN SAID FLASH POSITION AUTOMATICALLYDISPLACING SAID BLOCKING MEANS FROM SAID BLOCKING TO SAID RELEASEPOSITION AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME SUITABLE FOR MAKING FLASH EXPOSURES.